In this study, we evaluate whether offering an alternate reinforcer, during delays to the functional/requested reinforcer, is an effective way to mitigate problem behavior that may occur during delays to requested reinforcers. First, the functional reinforcer for problem behavior was identified (e.g., preferred items), as well as alternate reinforcers (e.g., attention). Next, we taught participants to ask for the functional reinforcer. We then began to introduce delays to the functional reinforcer, and compared periods in which the alternate item is available during the delay to periods in which no alternative items were available during the delay. Results showed that in one case, providing alternate reinforcers mitigated problem behavior during the delay; however, in another case, there was no difference in problem behavior across conditions.
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
Autism Research Database (AFD)
